If you pay, you get it for free? Sounds highly logical for Sony.

Not quite. If you cancel your subscription you lose any premium content including the copy of WipeoutHD they are dangling as a carrot.

Well, if you cancel your Live Gold subscription you lose all premium content as well as multiplayer play. I know it's not really the same (PSN is still free anyway) but is that really an issue? You don't pay, you don't get stuff.

Gotta be honest, I thought Nintendo's event was quite disappointing. They built up the new Zelda game as easy to control, then we watched Miyamoto flail around for 10 goddamn minutes trying to get Link to do what he wanted him to. The new Donkey Kong Country looks EXACTLY like the old Donkey Kong Country. I don't care about a new Golden Sun game. And the 3DS part I found really disappointing...they demo'd ONE GAME. ONE GAME?! Also, Reggie Fils-Aime is horrible. He tries to be funny, but just comes off as smug and condescending.
Sony's event impressed the Hell out of me. Move looks really responsive, even picking up on small movements (the Zelda demo looked even worse in retrospect). They one-upped Microsoft by showing Move and then pricing it and giving release details, and by announcing the Move bundle to make everyone forget about the new 360 package. Also, getting exclusive content for PS3 versions of games is a nice bullet point. Aside from the PSP part (seriously...it's dead and this whole segment felt tacked on) and the overall length of Sony's show, I thought they had a slam dunk.

In 1st place: Sony, for showing games that are enhanced by their gimmick, Twisted Metal, and Gabe; proving once again that "Sony always wins baby, Sony always wins!" Oh and Kevin Butler was cool too.
2nd place, Nintendo, satisfying criteria and expectations.
3rd, EA, they had fitness training shit and nothing we haven't seen before, but at least the majority of their presentation was games.
4th, Ubisoft. I like that Joel McHale went in there expecting to see hardcore games and got LASER TAG and BREATHING EXERCISES instead. Rayman looked nice though.
5th, SKITTLES!!!one!!!1!1one1!11!1!1one !1!!1!one !1!one!!111!!!!one!!!

So how many other events do the major companies have over the next few days? Do they ever do more than one, you know where the second might have things like REAL games or announcements of stuff like a new and decent psp?

Theres Blizzcon, tickets are $150. If you can't get that then go watch a livestream for $85.
Notice Bliz is the only company that pulls this shit and gets away with it?

I'll Play...
1st Place -- EA -- The HoneyBakedHam Award always goes to the company that offers the most support for the PC platform.
2nd -- Sony -- Because Move works (unlike Wii controllers). Even though Sony spends all their energy fellating their army of consul fanboys, unlike Nintendo they understand hardcore gamers and still manage to offer casual gamers what they need too. Killzone looks nice, but Bulletstorm looks better (and is on the PC, where all FPS games should be).
Sorcery looks like a generic Harry Potter, but I'm still interested because the Move controls appear to be truly responsive. I think this will appeal to fans of games like Fable who also wanna get a little bit of a work-out :-)
3rd -- UbiSoft -- But only because the new Ghost Recon might be cool. Frankly, Ubi is weak as Hell, and their DRM scheme is Draconian... but they do release PC games for players over the age of 9, which more than I can say for...
4th -- Nintendo -- If I had really young daughters, or if I liked wearing stalkings, or if I was afraid of spiders, or if I really didn't like games... I'd be interested in Nintendo. Do they not realize that the gamers who grew up on Nintendo have, in fact, grown up?
The Disney Epic Micky is the only innovative product, and it fails to generate interest outside the one target demographic that everything else is aimed at.
5th ??? I've been watching g4's live coverage and as such did not see Microsoft's show. I'd also like to see more of what smaller studios are showing.
Frankly, there are three ways to game. PC, then xBox, then PS3. Why that order? Because I don't own a PS3. I admit it... my opinions are self serving :-) I'm really more interested in games on PC first, then consoles second, and not in new tech, accessories, and hand helds.
Finally... is it just me? I spent a truckload of cash 18 months ago on a 52 inch HDTV. My PC sports a 27inch 16x9 LCD. I'm done for a while. I've invested. And I managed to squeak out my prized entertainment toys during a pretty bad recession. So I'm not too happy with all the vendors trying push 3D gimmicks into my home. 3D might be cool... but not for an 8 hour gaming session... and not with glasses... and not on a hand held... and not if I can't use it with what I already own.
I saw Avatar in 2D because that's how the characters were written, and I may sound like someone's grandpa, but that's good enough for me.
3D is a gimmick and it can wait. Make better games.

Were they ever interested in those "grown-ups"?

So what are you saying, nintendo are paedophiles?

Honestly Sony was best. Much better sceneshow, a host of new games, exciting new PSN features, in all, lots of new stuff.
All Nintendo did was present another DS (like last year), and lo and behold, they'll be releasing Mario, Zelda, and Metroid-based games on it! Woo!

Now that's a comment I didn't anticipate. Made me laugh though.

yawn

I still have Nintendo nostalgia and I enjoy a good Mario/Zelda/Metroid/Kid icarus/Donkey Kong game. I thought NIntendo had a great showing. Their games look colorful, well designed, and most importantly they look like they would actually be FUN to play, unlike some generic FPS military slog that is supposedly grown up because you shoot people in the face. I get the Nintendo has casual appeal, but as they pointed out in their press conference, they have a lot of "bridge" like New Super Mario Bros Wii and Mario Kart Wii that might have a more casual appearance, but require hardcore skill to master. These are the kind of games that bring casual gamers into the fold and nobody does that better than Nintendo.

Yeah... I get it...
I think that from a software point of view, Mario titles have provided millions (including me) with years of gaming goodness... and you are right about the bridge game titles, but after I play them with all their cartoony fun, there isn't anyplace left for me to go.
Sony is going to fill my need with a more sophisticated movement tracking technology and games that not only act as a bridge, but also games that land firmly on the hardcore side of gaming.
Like most people, my time and money are limited. I have a PC and an Xbox and if I want to add a system I have to choose and plan and save... not just for the hardware but the software too. Which system will do the most for me?
Nintendo? Motion is wonky... not HD... kid game focused... too many "classic" retreads.
PS3? Better tech... Blu-Ray... Family friendly and hardcore games.
As for what makes an adult game... it isn't just shooting people in the face. I don't think the crop of military shooters are generic, but my favorite shooter is the stylistic and arguably lower tech Team Fortress 2. Still, I want an Alan Wake type of game, and not one where Mario runs around in the woods with a flashlight trying to rescue the Princess from Bowser.
Everyone's mileage will vary... and I'd buy a Wii right now if I had kids (my son is all grown up now) or if I entertained with mixed generation families a lot, but as a grown man living with a grown gamer woman, we just don't see anything for us to attract us to Nintendo anymore.
Except Epic Micky.
Frankly, that looks like an awesome game with depth and style. I wish it would be available on other platforms.
So that's my long reason why I am unimpressed with Nintendo... that, and I'm not 9, so I don't need a handheld portable pacifier to keep me from acting out when I am bored in line at the grocery store.